DRESS FOR SUCCESS

HAS your fashion talent gone untapped? This is your chance to be discovered - and raise money for children's charities at the same time. British fashion label Ghost is calling upon all wannabe style-makers to design a ball gown so that the winning entry can be made up and auctioned at a glittering charity ball in April. The dress must reflect the butterfly theme of the Somerfield Butterfly campaign, which aims to change the misconceptions about children's hospices being bleak and sad – the symbol of the butterfly being one that means life is beautiful no matter how short it might be. "Ghost is very proud to be lending its support to Somerfield's fund-raising activities for the Association of Children's Hospices through the 'Design a Ball Gown' competition," says Emma Jones, international sales director at Ghost, who will be judging the entries. "We'll be judging on flair, creativity and imagination and would encourage everyone interested in design to enter regardless of their experience as anyone could win." The ball, at which the final dress will be modelled, will take place on board the Queen Mary II in Southampton on April 21 2006 and the winning designer and a friend will be there to witness the dress being auctioned, as well as being treated to two nights in a luxury hotel nearby. "The ball will be the high point of our partnership with Somerfield as their charity of the year," said the chief executive of the Association of Children's Hospices, Barbara Gelb. "We hope that more than £1 million will be raised in just one night." For more information, and to find out how to enter the competion, visit www.childhospice.org.uk. (January 19 2006, AM)